NY Town Requiring Facebook Access For CPL Applicants

Yes, well, the Chief said he uses the form to gather the applicant’s Facebook deets during a face-to-face interview. Why make note of the
password? “We don’t,” he insisted. “We ask the applicant to log on to Facebook in front of us.” So the Chief scrolls through the
applicant’s Facebook page searching for . . . ?

“Pages they’re looked at, friends – anything that reflects on the character of the applicant.” I pointed out that there’s a big difference
[in terms of privacy] between viewing a Facebook page as a friend and viewing it as the owner. The Chief wasn’t bothered by the distinction.

So because you may have a sketchy friend from the past on your friends list, you may be denied. Because you liked something about the police state,
you can be denied.

What if you don't have a Facebook account? Will they interpret that as you being a "privacy nut"?

Forget about not wanting to be stalked by your maniacal ex-wife and saying to hell with the "Facebook Experience". They'll simply chock it up to you
being a tinfoil-hat-wearing conspiracy-fringe lunatic--certainly not someone capable of responsible gun ownership.

Is non-conformity to materialist-consumer social norms now considered extremism?

As absurd and disagreeable to me as this is, it is not actually far from what many companies have been doing for a very long time - things like
extensive background checks, criminal history searches, MVR's, credit checks etc.

The euphamism used to excuse this invasive approach is checking ones "modality of living". It's doublespeak for "If we don't like you, we're
going to need to find a reason to reject you that looks better on paper than simply not liking you." So in real world application, it means nothing
to those who were going to get hired and is just part of a search for a reason not to hire those who aren't desired.

Take this away and they'll just go back to saying "I see here you bounced a check in 1981... That infers character issues that are contrary to our
companies inherent values and missions statement. I am so sorry but we cannot consider you for employment at this time...."

They seem to be so sure everyone has one. What if you don't have one? The question would probably be in reply, "Why are you trying to hide
something?" Stand up, say no, because it's going to become more rampant throughout if not.
Take for example in a similar situation concerning privacy: It's becoming illegal in some places now to ask for Facebook password:"It’s now
illegal for employers to ask for your social media passwords in Washington" -Washington State’s Senate Bill 5211(2013) -

There several other states that have implemented similar laws or have pending legislation about this issue. Oregon, which also will soon
prohibit employers asking for passwords, also passed a law banning colleges from doing the same to
students.

If someone asks why you don't have a Facebook account say it's because you philosophically disagree with the data mining that goes on with social
media. If they press further and say you probably do have one, point out that they're doing exactly the same thing that happens online, they're
just trying to data mine in person... that doesn't make it right, and a smart person won't participate in it. It helps your argument if you don't
have a smart phone.

Of course if you used a LinkedIn profile to apply for the job things might be tricky.

Sounds like the liberal masters in black dresses (oh I mean robes) are pressing it to the maximum.

Oh good grief. Do you honestly think that liberals like this kind of thing?? That's ridiculous and to basically smash your allegation that they do,
I'd like to point out to you that Oregon is actually a pretty liberal state (just watch Portlandia) and Oregon is one of the 11 states in the country
that banned the practice of obtaining a potential employee's facebook password.

So there you go, the crazy Leftists in Oregon beat most of the country to the punch on saying "hand's off my social media" to employers, potential
employers, and universities/colleges.

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